Cimolian Earth (Greek: κιμωλια, Latin: terra simolia), also known as "cimolite", refers to a variety of clays used widely in the ancient world.
The Stockholm papyrus manuscript, found in 1828 in a tomb in Thebes and dated to 300 BC, describes a washing powder especially for wool.
with nitre and lye into soap..."[3]Famous Roman author Pliny the Elder, in his Natural History, described two kinds of Cimolian earth, the one white, and the other "inclining to the tint of purpurissum".
They are curative also of inflammatory swellings and imposthumes of the parotid glands; and, applied topically, they are good for affections of the spleen and pustules on the body.
With the addition of aphronitrum,[4] oil of cypros, and vinegar, they reduce swellings of the feet, care being taken to apply the lotion in the sun, and at the end of six hours to wash it off with salt and water.